Paper

What can be recycled?

Office and printing paper, newspapers and advertising inserts, mail and envelopes, magazines and catalogs, plus an array of cereal and other dry food boxes, frozen food packaging, shoe and tissue boxes, non-greasy pizza boxes, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, soap and laundry detergent boxes, cosmetic packaging, corrugated cardboard, paper bags, and more

Why it wants to be recycled

Every ton of paper recycled saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. Approximately 75% of U.S. paper mills use some recovered fiber to make everything from paper-based packaging and tissue to office paper and newspaper. Based on weight measurements, paper is recycled nearly three times as often as it is sent to landfills, making paper the most recycled material in the municipal solid waste stream.

How to recycle it

Look for curbside, school, work, or public space recycling bins.

What does recycled paper become?

With a recycling rate of over 60%, many paper products have recycled content — here are just a few examples: Newspaper is usually made into more newsprint, with the remainder used for paperboard, tissue, and construction paperboard. Recycled office paper becomes raw material for tissue, printing and writing papers, and paperboard. Most recycled corrugated boxes are made into new boxes, and the rest is used for packaging, like cookie and cracker boxes.